How to Know Your Worth in the Workplace

Money is a great motivator for working hard and giving it your all, but when it comes to staying happy at work, the reward of a steady paycheck isn’t always enough. You can help ensure satisfaction, however, when you gain a clear picture of your personal worth. The first step is to place yourself in the driver’s seat of your life and career.

What Motivates You?

Understanding your core values is key to creating a work environment that supports you. Just as corporate mission statements keep an organization aligned, our individual core values give us purpose in our own lives. Additionally, they’ll give you more courage and confidence to make decisions that support your vision for success.

You can find some core value assessments online; however, I highly recommend working with a coach, or signing up your team to work with an organization such as Delivering Happiness at Work. It’ll help reveal what makes you and your team tick. I also recommend the book, Aligning with Your Core Values, by Tim Brownson.

What’s Your Superpower?

I’ve written a lot about knowing your strengths, but a fun way to approach your strengths is to envision them as unique superpowers. What is something that comes naturally to you that’s also a great asset to your team because no one else can do it as well as you can? Which projects or tasks light you up? Evaluate if you feel enabled to exercise these strengths in your workplace. It’s easy for a company to place bodies where work needs to get done, but remember that a team is most productive and happy when it’s working within its strengths. I find the book StrengthsFinder 2.0, by Tom Rath, quite useful.

A fun way to approach your strengths is to envision them as unique superpowers.

Owning Your Awesomeness

Owning your power means knowing your core values and the superpower you bring to the team, so don’t shy away. Staying small and not speaking up is equivalent to not doing your work, and that’s not serving anyone, particularly you. Let your voice be heard—lead with the heart, vision, and purpose that drives you—and reinforce your worth to the team. I highly recommend enrolling in Playing Big, Tara Sophia Mohr’s six-month leadership program that supports women who want to start playing bigger in their lives.

The Art of Negotiation

Remember that with any negotiation, the goal is to reach a mutual agreement, which means listening is just as important as making your case. It also means that your needs and requests must be heard, too. Know your limits, and don’t be afraid to state when something isn’t feeling right or fair. Request more time if you need it before coming to a decision. For further reading, I recommend my female clients read Women Don’t Ask, by Linda Babcock and Sara Laschever; it’s full of helpful tips.

Being aware of your core motivations, your unique strengths, and the value you bring is paramount to creating a positive, dynamic workplace. Remember that challenges are opportunities to improve your skills. Start developing them now, and commit to driving the happiness and success of your life and career.